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\u2022 Demonstrators beaten, dragged out of cars and arrested during demos against rigging in election LAHORE\/ISLAMABAD: The Punjab Police continued to use force in dealing with PTI protests across the province on Sunday, as many party workers were beaten up and a number of key leaders arrested during demonstrations against alleged electoral rigging.<\/p>\n The rallies and protests were held in major cities across the country on the call<\/a> of PTI\u2019s incarcerated founder, Imran Khan.<\/p>\n The agitation was met with an expected police response, at least in Punjab, where scores of leaders, workers, activists and supporters were arrested.<\/p>\n Videos posted on social media showed police manhandling protesters, and even dragging people out of cars flying PTI flags.<\/p>\n In Lahore, PTI MNA Sardar Latif Khosa, senior leader Salman Akram Raja and MPAs Farhat Abbas and Mian Haroon Akbar were arrested at different locations. The lawyers\u2019 family members have claimed their whereabouts are unknown since the arrests.<\/p>\n \u2018Ruthless action\u2019<\/strong><\/p>\n The demonstrators who had gathered at Lahore\u2019s GPO Chowk, the venue for the largest protest in Lahore, reminded Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif of her assertion that she would be \u201cruthless against violent protests\u201d.<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cThe Punjab police has gone one step further and became ruthless against peaceful protesters, including those sitting in their vehicles,\u201d a protester, Sultan Mahmood, said.<\/p>\n Another protester, Naveed Ali, said the PML-N government must end \u201cfascism\u201d as it had no right to use force on unarmed protesters.<\/p>\n \u201cThe massive protests across the province show that people have shunned fear and are pursuing their course of justice against massive rigging in election results and theft of their mandate,\u201d said another activist.<\/p>\n While protesters decried police violence, some journalists and social media activists covering the protest at the GPO Chowk were also beaten by police.<\/p>\n In addition to Lahore, the party also held rallies in Kasur, Sheikhupura, Gujranwala, Gujrat, Fais-alabad, Toba Tek Singh, Rawalpindi, Sahi\u00adwal, Multan, D.G. Khan, Rahim Yar Khan, Layyah, Baha-walpur, and Muzaffar-garh.<\/p>\n MPAs Awais Virk, Tayyab Rasheed and Sarfraz Dogar were held in Sheikhu\u00adpura, PTI\u2019s candidates Sabir Ansari from NA-131, Mehr Mohammad Saleem from PP-177 and labour wing head Mehr Safdar were held in Kasur.<\/p>\n PTI condemns police action<\/strong><\/p>\n A PTI spokesperson condemned police action and arrest of party workers and leaders, including Mr Khosa and Mr Raja.<\/p>\n The spokesperson said the CM should shun the policy of arresting peaceful protesters. \u201cThe fake government is scared of protests.\u201d<\/p>\n PTI leader Moonis Elahi alleged the CM was behind the police actions.<\/p>\n \u201cShe lost her own seat and spearheaded the downfall of her party. By arresting our PTI leaders and workers, she will ensure that her party gets wiped out,\u201d Mr Elahi said in a post on his X account.<\/p>\n He said police sealed the gates of his Gujrat home to stop his mother and aunt from joining the protest.<\/p>\n PTI Central Punjab General Secretary Hammad Azhar said police \u201cattacked\u201d and arrested peaceful protesters.<\/p>\n On his X account, he also reposted a video showing policemen surrounding a vehicle with visibly petrified children in the backseat and wrote: \u201cThe fake CM said she will be ruthless.\u201d<\/p>\n SCBA demands release of protesters<\/strong><\/p>\n The Supreme Court Bar Association demanded immediate release of PTI lawyers Sardar Latif Khosa, Barrister Salman Akram Raja, Mumtaz Mustafa and others who were arrested during a protest in Lahore against alleged rigging.<\/p>\n The SCBA decided to summon an emergency meeting of its executive committee to chart a course of action.<\/p>\n SCBA President Shahzad Shaukat and Secretary Syed Ali Imran termed the arrests a matter of grave concern, asking the authorities to respect the legal and democratic rights of citizens. \u201cThe recent trend of targeting and arresting members of the legal fraternity is alarming. It reflects a blatant disregard for constitutional rights, rampant lawlessness and abuse of power\u201d.<\/p>\n Protest in Islamabad<\/strong><\/p>\n In Islamabad, rallies from different areas reached Zero Point and then headed towards the National Press Club.<\/p>\n While addressing the crowd, PTI MNA Sher Afzal Marwat said people are willing to struggle to get back the \u201cstolen mandate\u201d.<\/p>\n \u201cYou will suffer for what you have done with the support of institutions and what you have done with the people,\u201d he said, addressing Punjab CM Maryam Nawaz.<\/p>\n By casting their vote in favour of PTI, the nation gave a clear message that it was standing behind Mr Imran, he said.<\/p>\n He also announced another public meeting in Islamabad on March 30.<\/p>\n Later, Mr Marwat took an oath from the workers that they would come out of their houses whenever required.<\/p>\n Shoaib Shaheen, who contested election from Islamabad, said two families had been enjoying power in Pakistan \u201cfor the last four decades\u201d and this time, the Election Commi\u00adssion of Pakistan (ECP) \u201cbe\u00ad\u00adcame their facilitator\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u2022 Raja, Khosa among leaders detained in various cities as party decries action against \u2018peaceful\u2019 gatherings
\u2022 SCBA demands release of protesters
\u2022 Marwat announces another protest on 30th<\/strong><\/p>\n